HP2 Sport W/O ABS opinions

[midmoto]

Hi all
I have the opportunity to purchase a one owner HP2S that was not ordered with the ABS option.
I have owned an HP2S with the ABS option (traded it ... long story.) I was wondering if anyone has any experience on a non ABS HP2S ?
Thanks all.

[SergioK]

My HP2S does not have ABS... I've never ridden one with ABS so I can't compare.

What specifically are you looking for?

I only have two 'data points' for tire lockup on this bike in 8 years. 1st, was a rear (full) lockup, early morning, cold tires (ambient temps in the high 50's/low 60's). Rider was also 'cold'. It was realitvely low speed, sub 35mph and I managed to gracefully unlock the rear without incident. The 2nd, was while leaned over through a turn, momentary lapse of reason. I grabbed wayyyyy too much front brake as I tried to come up. The tires (new, less than 200 miles) did a great job of skidding/skipping/chastising me and eventually it regained traction and all was well. Both incidents were very short. I'd say the 1st was perhaps max of 2 seconds and the 2nd was less than a second.

In all, the bike's brakes are very forgiving and they do give the rider feedback, even when pushed to lockup, so if you are good at braking, you can fix the problem before it becomes a bigger problem. I never intended to ride copious amounts in the rain with this bike so lack of ABS was never an issue for me. On my GS, the ABS are both a blessing and curse, depending on the level of grip and current situation. Sometimes I wish it just didn't have ABS.

[midmoto]

I am only asking because I have the opportunity to buy a one owner 08 w/o abs, 3500 miles or a 09 w/ abs three owners both for the same money.

[Dr. Curve]

One owner 2008 here. No ABS, but I would not mind one at my time in life. I have always liked the later ABS units, but am still glad I learned with no ABS so I still brake like I don't have one, even if on a bike that does. The HP2 has astounding brakes. One can put the thin Galfer Waves on them and might get slightly better feedback in wet conditions but if roads are dry, you are alert, and the tires have air...........a HP2 will really stop hard. A few times when doing hard stop practice from higher speeds, I have over braked on the front some but the feedback was there and no problems occurred. I had one only brake caused sliding incident and it was a combo of events that caused a let loose, but the bike recovered just like it should have. Either bike you get will be a joy. Make sure that it has had warranty work done. Get the papers that show so. Call BMW and see if the earlier unit (2008) has had the fuel pump and all its clamp connections replaced under warranty. Mine has been done and no more gas leaks. Be advised that the parts for this bike are hard to get and very expensive if carbon skin related. Top speed, about 167, braking distance from 60-mph with 165 pound total rider, about 107 to 112 feet. Make sure your sags are set right and this will assure that the bike neither goes up or down during hard braking, especially useful in the tights where its full on/full off/full on/full off.......braking and accelerating as the wheel base stays the same no matter how you dive in or leave a apex. Just get one, or the other, of them, that is what really counts. If not now, when?

[Droptarotter]

Buy them both!

Cheers

[Danman]

If both bikes are in the same condition then I say go with ABS. I am the 3rd owner of an R1200s and have had no issues. Do make sure about the recalls being done, as others have said. Congratulations and good luck.